The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc
The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation is a private foundation based in Toms River, New Jersey. Co-founded in 2013 by Jay and the late Linda Grunin, it provides funding, capacity building, and coalition building to organizations working toward an equitable, just, and vibrant Central Jersey Shore.
Key facts about The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc
In short: The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc gave $5.9M across 109 grants in 2025 (avg $54K), mostly in New Jersey. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 45-3988913
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,866,332
- Grants made (2025)
- 109
- Average grant
- $53,820
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (28 of 97, 2025)
- Total assets
- $24,617
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (88% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The Foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$25K
+17.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.9M
-3.0% YoY
Grant Count
109
+26.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$54K
-23.4% YoY
Is The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 28 of 97 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $80K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 61% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to provide holistic support through funding, capacity building, and coalition building to organizations that share its vision of an equitable, just, and vibrant Central Jersey Shore. It has shifted from traditional funding pillars such as arts, education, and healthcare to six outcome focus areas, which it describes as connected to the region’s needs. It also says it aims to provide more general operating support rather than programmatic funding and values partnerships that positively affect communities facing inequities.
The Foundation makes grants to 501(c)(3) organizations or organizations fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3). Its 2025 grantees illustrate a range of work: Ocean County College Foundation says its mission is to provide student scholarships, awards, loans, and community programs; Interfaith Neighbors says it provides meals, rental and utility assistance, affordable housing, and community development; and Count Basie Theatre describes its mission as fostering inclusive artistic experiences and inspiring, educating, and entertaining through cultural and artistic offerings.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 109 grants totaling $5,866,332. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $651,000, with a median grant of $25,000. The largest grant was $651,000 to Ocean County College Foundation for capital and program support. Other large awards included $500,000 to Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation for capital support, $500,000 to Hackensack Meridian Health for a preceptorship and apprenticeship, and $425,000 to Community Medical Center Foundation for capital support related to its graduate medical education program and foundation.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation describes itself as a place-based funder focused on the Central Jersey Shore, specifically Monmouth and Ocean Counties. In 2025, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in New Jersey; 9% went to Florida, and 1% each went to New York, Kentucky, and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 109 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.8M (2019) to $6.2M (2023). In 2025 it made 109 grants totaling $5.9M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ocean County College Foundation ($651K). Together the top 10 received $3.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
434 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 321 grants of 434 (74%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean County College Foundation Toms River, NJ | Capital SUP(GRUNIN CTR,PAA);PROG Sup | $651,000 |
| Boca Raton Regional Hospital Fnd Boca Raton, FL | Capital Support | $500,000 |
| Hackensack Meridian Health Inc Neptune, NJ | PCT PRECEPTORSHIP&APPRENTICESHIP | $500,000 |
| Community Medical Center Foundation Toms River, NJ | Capital SUPP(GME Program & Fnd Fund) | $425,000 |
| Count Basie Theatre Inc Red Bank, NJ | Capital Support/Employee Match | $266,916 |
| Children's Specialized Hospital Mountainside, NJ | Capital Support | $200,000 |
| Count Basie Theatre Inc Red Bank, NJ | 10 Yr Endowment Campaign PMT 3 OF10 | $200,000 |
| Foodbank of Monmouth Dbafulfill Neptune City, NJ | PMT 2OF5 Comprehensive Campaign Supp | $200,000 |
| Interfaith Neighbors Inc Asbury Park, NJ | Capital Support | $200,000 |
| NJ ARTS&CULTURAL Renewal Fund Inc Montclair, NJ | Grant PMT 1OF2 Gen Operating Support | $200,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $24,617 | $7,539,910 | $7,247,926 | $5,866,332 |
| 2024 | $21,036 | $7,076,736 | $10,825,937 | $6,045,908 |
| 2023 | $488,456 | $7,803,277 | $9,243,720 | $6,230,161 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $24,617 | $21,036 | $488,456 |
| Revenue | $7,539,910 | $7,076,736 | $7,803,277 |
| Expenses | $7,247,926 | $10,825,937 | $9,243,720 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,866,332 | $6,045,908 | $6,230,161 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,902,082 | $2,371,113 | $2,104,007 |
| Distributable Amount | — | $42,201 | $27,220 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 30, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 21, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jay Grunin as chairman and Jeremy Grunin as president. It also lists Heather Barberi as executive director; Kelly Fliller as director of communications; and Joshua Grunin, Victoria Marie Fernandez, Rebecca Grunin, Tomas Alvarez, Laurie Goganzer, and Nicole Pulliam as board members.
The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc is led by Heather Barberi, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2019); 11 of 15 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Heather Barberi
Executive Director
Executive Di → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$169K (2019) → $227K (2025)
Jeremy Grunin
President
On filings since 2019
36 hrs/week
$240K (2024) → $240K (2025)
Jay Grunin
Chairman
On filings since 2019
12 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Fliller
Director Communications
Communications → Director Communications, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$99K (2021) → $117K (2025)
Victoria Marie Fernandez
Director Communit
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$21K (2022) → $144K (2025)
Jaclyn Rodemann
Director of Opera
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$84K (2024) → $95K (2025)
Edward Johnson
Board Member
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
$3K (2025)
Laurie Goganzer
Board Member
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
$3K (2025)
Nicole Pulliam
Board Member
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
$3K (2025)
Tomas Alvarez
Board Member
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
$3K (2025)
Adriana Medina-Gomez
Board Member
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
$3K (2025)
Elizabeth Golla
Board Member
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
$3K (2025)
Joshua Grunin
Board Member
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Grunin
Board Member
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emma Grunin
Board Member
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $240K, to Jeremy Grunin (President). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 432 Lakehurst Road Suite 1, Toms River, NJ 08755
Phone: (732) 244-4010
Website: https://gruninfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc
How much does The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc give each year?
The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc gave $5.9M across 109 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $6.0M across 86 grants.
What is The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $53,820, across 109 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc that year got $13K on average.
Where does The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc give grants?
The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc gives mostly in New Jersey: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Red Bank, NJ (12 grants), Toms River, NJ (11 grants), Asbury Park, NJ (7 grants) and Newark, NJ (5 grants).
Does The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 55% of The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (60 of 109) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Employee Match" (7 grants) and "Capital Support" (4 grants).
Who are The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Ocean County College Foundation ($651,000), Boca Raton Regional Hospital Fnd ($500,000) and Hackensack Meridian Health Inc ($500,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc?
The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc reported $25K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $7.5M.
What does The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to provide holistic support through funding, capacity building, and coalition building to organizations that share its vision of an equitable, just, and vibrant Central Jersey Shore. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc?
The Foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3988913. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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